8.13.2004
NOA Exec Speaks Out About DS
Big ups to Planet Gamecube for this excellent transcript of NOA VP of Sales and Marketing, Reggie Fils-Aime's recent speech about Nintendo's approach with the Nintendo DS and the overall market of video gaming right now. I'll throw up some quotes I felt were especially important:
[regarding the PSP's targeted "older audience"]...HOW MANY 20 YEAR OLDS REALLY TAKE REGULAR THREE HOUR PLANE FLIGHTS? ELEVEN-YEAR-OLDS SPEND HALF-DAY CAR TRIPS IN THE BACK SEAT, PLAYING GAME BOY. 21-YEAR-OLDS SPEND HALF-DAY CAR TRIPS IN THE FRONT SEAT, DRIVING. ...EVEN IF THOSE BLOCKS OF TIME WERE AVAILABLE TO THEM, HOW MANY OLDER GAMERS WOULDN’T REALLY RATHER WAIT AND PLAY THOSE GAMES AT HOME, LYING ON THE COUCH, BLASTING AWAY ON THEIR BIG SCREENS? THE LESS OBVIOUS ANSWER HERE—BUT PERHAPS THE MORE ACCURATE ONE—IS THAT OLDER GAMERS MAY WELL EXPECT AND ACCEPT A DIFFERENT KIND OF GAME EXPERIENCE ON THEIR PORTABLE.
[indicating that what sells HARDWARE is most importantly, software]...WHY DID THE ORIGINAL GAME BOY SUCCEED? ITS INCREDIBLE SURGE OF ACCEPTANCE WAS PROBABLY DUE TO ONE FACTOR OVER ALL OTHERS—THE PACKAGED TETRIS GAME THAT CAME WITH VIRTUALLY EVERY ONE OF THOSE MILLIONS OF INITIAL GAME BOY PURCHASES. ...IN 1998 WE GAVE GAME BOY A COLOR SCREEN…AND IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED RECORD SYSTEM SALES. BUT TO CREDIT THE NEW SCREEN FOR ITS SALES EXPLOSION IS TO IGNORE THE REAL REASON FOR THE LEAP—THE WORLDWIDE INTRODUCTION OF POKEMON. REMEMBER, GAME GEAR BOASTED A COLOR DISPLAY IN 1990--BUT IT DIDN’T HAVE POKEMON TO BUILD THE WOW.
Excellent speech which was terribly insightful about how the industry works and where Nintendo feels it is going. He even points out how Nintendo had DDR style gaming years ago with the PowerPad and invented basically every important gaming trend since then. I don't think the guy's cocky, I just think he's excited. It's a fantastic read, so take the time to check it out.
[regarding the PSP's targeted "older audience"]...HOW MANY 20 YEAR OLDS REALLY TAKE REGULAR THREE HOUR PLANE FLIGHTS? ELEVEN-YEAR-OLDS SPEND HALF-DAY CAR TRIPS IN THE BACK SEAT, PLAYING GAME BOY. 21-YEAR-OLDS SPEND HALF-DAY CAR TRIPS IN THE FRONT SEAT, DRIVING. ...EVEN IF THOSE BLOCKS OF TIME WERE AVAILABLE TO THEM, HOW MANY OLDER GAMERS WOULDN’T REALLY RATHER WAIT AND PLAY THOSE GAMES AT HOME, LYING ON THE COUCH, BLASTING AWAY ON THEIR BIG SCREENS? THE LESS OBVIOUS ANSWER HERE—BUT PERHAPS THE MORE ACCURATE ONE—IS THAT OLDER GAMERS MAY WELL EXPECT AND ACCEPT A DIFFERENT KIND OF GAME EXPERIENCE ON THEIR PORTABLE.
[indicating that what sells HARDWARE is most importantly, software]...WHY DID THE ORIGINAL GAME BOY SUCCEED? ITS INCREDIBLE SURGE OF ACCEPTANCE WAS PROBABLY DUE TO ONE FACTOR OVER ALL OTHERS—THE PACKAGED TETRIS GAME THAT CAME WITH VIRTUALLY EVERY ONE OF THOSE MILLIONS OF INITIAL GAME BOY PURCHASES. ...IN 1998 WE GAVE GAME BOY A COLOR SCREEN…AND IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED RECORD SYSTEM SALES. BUT TO CREDIT THE NEW SCREEN FOR ITS SALES EXPLOSION IS TO IGNORE THE REAL REASON FOR THE LEAP—THE WORLDWIDE INTRODUCTION OF POKEMON. REMEMBER, GAME GEAR BOASTED A COLOR DISPLAY IN 1990--BUT IT DIDN’T HAVE POKEMON TO BUILD THE WOW.
Excellent speech which was terribly insightful about how the industry works and where Nintendo feels it is going. He even points out how Nintendo had DDR style gaming years ago with the PowerPad and invented basically every important gaming trend since then. I don't think the guy's cocky, I just think he's excited. It's a fantastic read, so take the time to check it out.
